Four Angels to ride in Rose Parade

The players are: Troy Percival, the Angels closer who helped the team win its only World Series championship in 2002; starting pitchers Mark Langston (1990-97 on the Angels) and Chuck Finley (1986-99); and second baseman Bobby Grich (1977-86).

The four will ride alongside four children selected from local community organizations on Anaheim's float, called "All-Star Dreams."

Intended to promote the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game – which comes to Anaheim on July 13 – the float features floral replicas of Angel Stadium and the Big A icon, which will rise 25-feet high as the float makes its way down the 5.5-mile parade route.

The city is paying $150,000 from a special tourism fund to sponsor the float. It's the fourth consecutive year Anaheim has entered a float in the parade. City officials say the television exposure is worth the cost, as the parade reaches an estimated 40 million people each year.

The city worked with the Angels to invite the players, each of them former all-stars. Percival and Langston each appeared in the All-Star game four times. Finley was a five-time all-star and Grich made six All-Star game appearances.